Iran Weekly Banned for Insulting Khatami

A conservative Iranian weekly in the holy city of Qom was suspended for "insulting" a number of officials, including moderate President Mohammad Khata

A conservative Iranian weekly in the holy city of Qom was suspended for "insulting" a number of officials, including moderate President Mohammad Khatami, press reports said Saturday.

The Rahian-e Feyzieh weekly was ordered closed by the public court in Qom, south of Tehran, for "insulting the president, the interior minister [Abdolvahed Mussavi Lari], and former culture minister Ataollah Mohajerani."

Iran's conservative-dominated judiciary launched a major campaign against the reformist press more than a year ago, closing more than 20 publications and arresting a number of journalists -- TEHRAN (AFP)